On the heels of a nine-month suspension, heavyweight Lavar Johnson (17-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has been cut by the UFC.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the news with a source close to the fighter.

Johnson leaves the octagon with a 2-2 record, which included back-to-back losses in his most recent fights.

Johnson, who trains with the American Kickboxing Academy, flunked a drug test following a fight with Brendan Schaub at UFC 157, which ended in a unanimous decision loss. An elevated testestosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 6.6-to-1 triggered a carbon isotope ratio (CIR) test that confirmed Johnson had testosterone in his system that was “was consistent with the administration of a steroid.”

Johnson, though, admitted he was undergoing testosterone replacement therapy in a recent conversation with the California State Athletic Commission, which oversaw the Feb. 23 pay-per-view event at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and suspended him based on the results of his test.

Johnson failed to disclose TRT on a pre-fight medical questionnaire. A rep for AKA said the fighter may seek an exemption for the treatment.

The hard-swinging heavyweight won back-to-back “Knockout of the Night” bonuses in his first UFC appearances, but struggled with his grappling in subsequent bouts. Prior to his octagon debut, Johnson went 3-2 in the now-defunct Strikeforce, falling prey to submissions in his last two performances.

Fifteen of Johnson’s wins have come by way of stoppage due to strikes.

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